Track announcer Richard Hoiles said it best as the remarkable colt MAXIMUM SECURITY overcame being carried out by Mucho Gusto, angled inside and reached for the finish of the $20 million Saudi Cup, barely holding off the filly MIDNIGHT BISOU.
“Once known for the race he lost, now remembered for the race he won.”
The 1 1/8 mile Saudi Cup (G1), the richest race in the world in its first running was a super horse race with the American runners dominating the finish over the desert dirt. Maximum Security, trained to perfection by Jason Servis and pushed to victory by jockey Luis Saez, was making his first start in the colours of Coolmore, which bought stud duties for the colt from breeders Gary and Mary West.
Saez needed to get every ounce of power from Maximum Security (New Year’s Day – Lil Indy), scrubbing the colt to stay with the Bob Baffert trainee Mucho Gusto around the turn into the long stretch run. When Mucho Gusto drifted out and tried to carry ‘Max’ out with him, Seaz angled his colt in and launched his colt to the front.
Meanwhile, from far, far back, the filly Midnight Bisou was putting in a furious rail run under Mike Smith and was just a jump or two from catching up.
The time was 1:50.58.
Sunday morning, broadcast Nick Luck relayed that Servis said the Dubai World Cup at the end of March was ‘doubtful’ for the colt.
“You know, I was a little upset with Irad Ortiz who kept me tearing me out down the backside and who carried me out in the turn and when Max dropped inside he came down on me, but that is a story for another day,” said Servis.
“Really, that horse has got a lot of heart, he is some horse, he is amazing. It’s got to be some vindication. He ran hard, I thought he was creased up in behind. He was really doing good. I am a bit superstitious and didn’t want to over-talk him but the last three days, when he breezed the mile and one (1800m), he just ran and came off the track there was just a presence about him and I tried to stay calm, but I was really feeling good the last few days.”
Disqualified from his Kentucky Derby (G1) win last May, Max went on to earn Champion 3-Year-Old colt honours with victories in a litany of races at various distances such as the Cigar Mile and Haskell (G1’s both) before being rested and prepared for the Saudi Cup, the idea of owner Gary West.
Incredibly, the Wests ran their homebred for $16,000 maiden claiming first time out in his life late in 2018 as a juvenile. He won easily and was not claimed.
For the outspoken Wests, who went to court to fight the Derby disqualification, the Saudi Cup trip plan worked perfectly, albeit there is no doubt Max is a tired boy in Saudi Arabia this morning.
In the aftermath, news almost bigger than the race itself came out that jockey Smith on Midnight Bisou was handed a nine-day whipping penalty and 60% of his share of the $3.5 million runner-up purse over $200,000.
Smith hit the mare 14 times, above the maximum of 10, according Racing post. The Racing Post quoted a steward:
Phil Tuck, stipendiary steward for the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, said: “All riders, including Mike, were spoken to at a briefing on Friday and Saturday, and reminded of the relevant rules and penalties.
“A guide to all relevant rules was emailed to visiting riders before their arrival and copies were pinned up in the changing rooms. We are protecting the welfare of the horse and all riders were informed of this.
🔟 MILLION DOLLAR MOOD 🙌#MaximumSecurity #TheSaudiCup @luissaezpty pic.twitter.com/DcLOJ1LGCc
— World Horse Racing (@WHR) February 29, 2020
More from Canadian Thoroughbred:
